The Planning and Zoning Commission consists of seven members who are appointed by the Village President with the advice and consent of the Village Board. The Commission members are residents of the Village.
The Planning and Zoning Commission is vested with the power to conduct hearings and make recommendations to the Village Board on: all amendments to the Zoning Ordinance; all Conditional Uses; and, Planned Unit Developments. The Planning and Zoning Commission also reviews and makes recommendations to the Village Board on: subdivision developments; changes in the official Comprehensive Plan; and any other matters that may be referred to the Commission by the Village Board.
The Planning and Zoning Commission meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month (except during July), at 7:00pm. The Planning and Zoning Commission's Committee of the Whole meetings are also held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month (except during July), immediately following the regular meeting.
The Planning and Zoning Commission meeting agendas and minutes are posted on the Village website. You may view them by going to the Agendas and Minutes page. Copies of all Commission meeting minutes are available for review in the Department of Community Development.
Packets of information for filing applications for various zoning approvals. In addition to general information, the packets include applications and fees, a complete list of all documents to be submitted, hearing schedules, addresses and phone numbers of other agencies that may be affected by the application.
Zoning consists of dividing the community into districts (Residential - Commercial - Industrial) and regulating within such districts the permitted uses of land, lot sizes, density, yard requirements, building heights, parking, accessory uses and buildings, and other requirements. Its primary purpose is to conserve and promote the health, safety and general welfare of the people of the community by fixing reasonable standards to which buildings must conform.
Zoning plays a major role in not only the development of new subdivisions, but more importantly, in the preservation of existing neighborhoods. After a subdivision is complete and the homes are occupied, changes begin to occur; fences are installed, driveways are widened, swimming pools and decks are constructed and room additions are built. Over a period of time, the character of the subdivision begins to change, and if left uncontrolled, deterioration of the neighborhood will result. Zoning regulations serve to control these changes in response to the individual and collective needs of the community.
Effective zoning depends on the support of the citizens of the community and an understanding of the local zoning regulations. While many will resist zoning on the basis that it restricts what is allowed on private property, few will fail to recognize that zoning is essentially important to the quality of the community.
A copy of the entire zoning ordinance, text and map is available for review at the Civic Center or can be obtained from the Glenside Library.